The Next Normal: Transitioning to a Hybrid or Hyflex Education Model

Education has undergone a paradigm shift over the past two years. Schools and universities across the globe had to manage closures and introduce home-based learning due to COVID-19. As the world starts planning for the next normal, educational institutions are also re-thinking teaching models and driving the adoption of new technology to boost student engagement.

RETURN TO SCHOOL SCENARIOS

While schools in some countries are returning with reduced class sizes, new health policies, and social distancing measures, others are sticking with a 100% virtual model. For each scenario, careful planning is needed with the right gear and support to make learning seamless from any environment.

SCENARIO 1: LEARN AND TEACH FROM HOME

Learning from home spaces will vary. While some educators and students have a designated work area, others have to make do with a corner of a communal space. Household distractions, learning with less structure, and health and emotions all play a part when it comes to daily disruption. Prioritize wellbeing by providing guidance on optimal learning space set-up, and share virtual best practices to ensure educators and students have the gear they need to stay connected and engaged.

SCENARIO 2: RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM

When schools do re-open fully, adequate spacing between desks, daily cleaning of IT equipment and high touchpoints such as desks, door handles, and light switches, and sanitizing stations in each classroom will be crucial to maintain hygiene standards. From a learning perspective, developing a video-first culture is critical to ensure educators and students stay connected. Particularly in such uncertain times, where education institutions may be required to move to virtual learning environments with short notice. Equipping classrooms of all sizes for video conferencing will help keep educators and students connected while ensuring enough chairs are removed to maintain social distancing.

SCENARIO 3: THE HYBRID OR HYFLEX APPROACH

Some institutions may decide that a hybrid or hyflex teaching approach is the right model, combining considerations from scenarios 1 and 2. This could mean creating block schedules or keeping students separated by grade or alphabet to stagger class start times to maintain safe distancing. Partial class attendance with some students being taught online and others in-person can be achieved by a week-by-week rotation. All large gatherings such as assemblies should be avoided, and every classroom should be equipped with video for those students who remain to learn from home.

PLANNING THE TRANSITION

Personalized learning experience, student wellbeing, and meaningful human connection will continue to be important factors for successful learning in the new normal. Leveraging the right technology and tools can help bridge the gap between traditional and virtual classrooms.

THE FUTURE OF VIDEO COLLABORATION TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION

Video collaboration has become critical for maintaining and building relationships in education. Despite not being able to provide in-person instruction, educators have become more confident integrating video technology into their teaching methods.

Video conferencing has expanded learning possibilities. Even before the pandemic, schools can be exposed and connected to specialists across the globe. In times of crisis or absenteeism due to sickness, digital ways of learning give students the ability to learn from home in any situation.

The pandemic accelerated these changes that were already taking place. Where schools once had temporary solutions in place for video collaboration, they now need longer-term solutions to engage in a virtual world where health and safety are front and center of everyone’s mind.

Logitech Whole Classroom Solutions

Logitech takes pride in staying up to speed on the ever-changing landscape of educational spaces. Our Classroom Solutions builds out and transforms any space into a collaborative classroom.

Rally Family

Collaborative classrooms are at your fingertips with our family of Rally products. A premium, ultra-HD conference cam, available in three sizes, Rally products make sure everyone in the room can be seen and heard:

• RightLight with WDR so everyone is lit well, even in dim or backlit conditions
• Front-mounting speaker and/or additional speaker and mic for expanded coverage – Simple set-up, no matter the room size

• Rally Bar Mini – For small classrooms, teaching from home or huddle spaces
• Rally Bar – For mid-size classrooms
• Rally Plus – For large classrooms
• Scribe – An AI-powered whiteboard camera, Scribe empowers remote learners to participate fully with their teacher and peers by broadcasting unobstructed whiteboard content in classrooms and hybrid learning environments.

Solutions for Students

From cameras and presentation tools to headsets, mice, keyboards, and more, Logitech helps you easily enhance any learning situation, whether in-person or remote. Combined, the Logitech Brio camera, Zone headphones, and our advanced and customizable mice and keyboards ensure every student can be equipped for any learning situation.

• Brio – The world’s most technologically advanced webcam, Logitech BRIO delivers 4K Ultra HD video with 5X zoom and RightLight 3 with HDR.
• Zone – Wired and wireless headsets ensure you can hear and are being heard with incredible clarity.

In a world where in-person full-time learning may take time to return, Logitech can support you to help your school stay connected and engaged. Logitech’s solutions for home learning workspaces and classrooms, are easy to set up, manage, and use – transitioning you smoothly to the next normal. For more information, please visit https://info.logitech.com/hybrid-future-en.html.